Automatic boiler water conditioner



July 16, 1940- l.. o. GuNpERsoN AL' 2,207,800

AUTOMATIC BOILER WATER CONDITIONER 1 Will/ZN I @f/@001mb PK Me/cw. my MEE- July 16, 1940- L. o, GUNDERSoN Er AL AUTOMATIC BOILER WATER CONDITIONER4 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 24, 1957 VE UFE [5W/s 0. @a4/05660114 Ono/vo W2' ,Gle/che.

Q MM g5 Patented July 16, 1940 v UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Chicago, Ill.,

assignors to Electro-Chemical Engineering Corporation, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Delaware Application December 24, 1937, Serial No. 181,490

18 Claims.

This invention relates to the automatic removal from operating steam boilers of foam and foam forming ingredients without discharge of relatively good boiler water therewith,

More specically the invention relates to the collection of light water and foam developed throughout and above the steam generating zone of the boiler during operation of the boiler which collected material is periodically discharged from the boiler whenever steam and liquid conditions in a valve mounted on the boiler are varied from a predetermined condition. f This application is a continuation-impart of the Carrick and Gunderson application entitled: Automatic boiler water conditioner and blowoil' system, U. S. Serial 104,760, flledOctober 9, 1936, now Patent No. 2,132,028, grantedy October 4, 1938.

In the operation of steam boilers, it is desirable to maintain-a substantiallyr constant level for the boiler water. For-this purpose, sight glasses are usually provided on steam boilers to indicate the water level in the boiler. when the steam boiler is in operation and supplying steam, a mass of steam expanded or lighty Water is formed throughout the' steam generating zone of the main body of boiler water. Foam may alsobe formed on top of the boiler Water or light boiler water. Since the foam and light boiler water is composed of' a myriad of steam bubbles and has less density than the boiler water, the actual upper level of'foam or light Water is not indicated in the sight glass.

At times during the operation of a steam boiler, the entire steam space may be filled With foam or light water. These materials, under such conditions, of course are delivered from the boiler with the steam. The boiler then supplies a low quality steam We have found that foam forming and foam stabilizing ingredients in boiler Water accumulate or are adsorbed in the steam bubble interfaces of the light boiler water and in the foam film. As these lsubstances are released at the surface of the light boiler Water upon breaking of the steam bubbles; they are free to recirculate in the boiler water and repeat their function of bringing about foam formation' and foam stabilization by being again adsorbed in the surfaces of new steam bubbles formed in the evaporation zone of the boiler.

According to one embodiment of this invention, a collecting means is positioned vin the upper portion of a boiler above the normal water level maintained ltherein but having the inlet HOWSVBI,

thereof below a level considered dangerous for the foam and light water. In other words, the inlet of the collecting means is within the zone reached by a safe development of foam or light water formed during a working of the boiler. Thus these materials, having the foam forming and foam stabilizing ingredients concentrated therein, are collected in the collecting means before they reach a level in the boiler sufciently high to be entrained with the steam issuing from the boiler.

The collecting means is allowed to accumulate a predetermined amount of the foam and light water therein and the collected material is then automatically blown out of the boiler at intervals.

In another embodiment of the invention, the collecting means are dispensed with. A down pipe extends down into the boiler and terminates above the normal water level therein but below a level considered dangerous for foam formation. Valve means are associated with the down pipe to effect automatic discharge of foam and light waterwhenever the down pipe is `s ubmerged-` in these materials. y

lor the purpose of effecting an automatic removal of the foam and light water from the boiler, a discharge valve is mounted preferably on top of the boiler.` This valve receives a down pipecommunicating with the lower portion of the collecting'means or the d own pipe described above terminating within the foam or light water zone of the boiler.

The valve is provided with one or more piston operated auxiliary valves having the pistons thereof subjected to boiler pressure. Vents or bleeder passageways are provided for releasing the boiler pressure from the pistons to allow the boiler pressure acting on the valves to hold the valves closed. Pilot valves are provided to open and close the bleeder passageways or vents. These pilot valves are actuated by the entrance of liquid into the valve for either raising a float in the valve or for changing the temperature 0f the steam passing through the bleeder passageways or vents. When liquid enters the valve the auxiliary valves are opened to permit the boiler pressure to blow the 'foam or light water out of the boiler. f

If desired, duplexvalves can be used having a pair of piston operated auxiliary valves therein for blowing down the mud ring of the boiler simultaneously `with the discharge of foam or light water or for increasing the rate of discharge of the foam or light water by providing two outlets therefor.

It is then an object of this invention to automatically discharge foam and light water from an operating steam boiler whenever liquid enters a valve mounted on top of the boiler.

A further object of this invention is to discharge foam and light water from an operating steam boiler at a level above the normal water level in the boiler by venting the steam space of the boiler with the atmosphere through a down pipe terminating in the boiler within the,

foam zone until the mouth of the down pipe is submerged in foam or light water and utilizing the liquid entering the down pipe to effect a blowing oli of the foam and light water in the boiler.

Another object of this invention is to provide a thermally operated discharge valve for automatically effecting periodic discharge of foam from the boiler.

A further object of this invention is to collect foam forming and foam stabiiizing ingredients in the upper portion of an operating steam boiler and to provide a valve on top of the boiler adapted to be opened by an entrance of liquid therein from the collecting means for removing the collected material from the boiler.

Another object is to provide apparatus for automatically blowing down a desiredportion of the boiler before light water development in the boiler reaches a dangerous level.

Other and further objects of this invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detaileddescription of the annexed sheets of drawings which disclose preferred embodiments of the invention.

While the invention illustrated on the drawings is applied to a locomotive boiler, it should be understood that any type of steam boiler can be beneiited by the apparatus of this invention. The appended claims arev therefore ntended to cover the use of the apparatus of thisV invention on any type of steam boiler.

On the drawings:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary diagrammatic sideV elevational view of a locomotive, with a part broken away and shown in vertical cross section, to illustrate an embodiment of this invention operatively mounted on the locomotive.

Figure 1A is a View similar to Figure 1 but illustrating a modication wherein the lower portion of the boiler is also blown down.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary side elevational view of a locomotive, with a part broken away and shown in vertical cross section to illustrate another modii'ication of this invention.

Figure 3 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a thermally operated valve and attendant mechanism forming part of the apparatus of this invention, mounted on a locomotive boiler shell also shown in cross section.

Figure 3A is a diagrammatic view of a blow off valve that can be actuated by the thermally operated valve shown in Figure 3.

Figure 4 is an enlarged vertical cross-sectional Y view of a liquid operated valve forming part of the apparatus of this invention.

Figure 5 is a vertical cross-sectional view of another form of liquid operated valve forming part of the apparatus of this invention.

As shown on the drawings:

In Figure 1 the reference numeral Ill designates generally a locomotive comprising the usual boil-l er shell Il, fire box I2 and engineers cab I3. The re box I2 is defined by iront'and rear sheets I4 and I5 and a crown sheet I6.

The reference numeral I'I designates the level of water in the boiler as indicated in conventional sight glass. The top level of this boiler water is usually maintained about at least 3k to 5 inches above the crown sheet I6.

The space I 8 at the top of the boiler is the steam space from/,which steam is supplied to the' This light ter or foam 2l in the boiler is not indicated by the usual sight glass provided in the engineers cab because of the lower density of this material. As a result, the engineer usually has no indication of the level of the foam or light wa- 'ter in the boiler. This material can therefore fill the entire steam space I8 -without knowledge of the engineer and will be entrained in the steam entering the dome I3 for delivery to the operating cylinders.

Obviously, since such moisture entrainment is not desirable, the foam level or light water level in the boiler should be maintained as low as possible to prevent 'moisture entrainment in the steam.

According to this invention, an open topped pan 22 is mounted in the boilerII and has the' vtop edges thereofbelowa level considered dangerous for foam or light water. Ther pan 22 is suspended from the top of the boiler I I on straps The pan 22 can thus receive light water or foam 2i therein together with the accumulated adsorbed foam producing and `foam stabilizing foreign matter.

The pan 22 is preferably mounted immediately behind the steam dome I9 to intercept foamy orV light water that might otherwise pass into thek steam dome. y

According to the modification of the invention 'shown in Figure 1, Aa valve 25 is mounted on top of the boiler shell II. `The valve `25 includes a rlower chamber 26 having an inlet 2l Vgiving enf in the boiler II will raise the liquid through the pipe 33 into the chamber 25 for raising the oat 28 to open the valve.

A second pipe 34 extends from the inlet port 30 of the chamber 29 through the Iboiler shell II into the bottom portion of the pan 22. When the valve 25 is opened by liquid entering the chamber 26, the material collected in the pan 22 will be blown up through they pipes 33 and 31S into the yvalve 25 and out of the discharge port 32 thereof. A pipe 35 is itted into the discharge port for receiving the material issuing from the valve and for feeding this material into a steam separator 36 mounted on top of the boiler shell I I in front of the engineers cab I3. The steam Separator 36 is -ocf known construction and has a steam outlet 311fextending upwardly therefrom y 'and a liquid drainlline38 extending .to'thebotlso vtom of the locomotive.

Steam ilashed from the liquid supplied to the `steam separator 36 is thus vented to theatmosphere while lthe hot liquid can' drain with harmless force, through the drain pipe 38,` to the road bed beneath the locomotive.

The pipes 33 and 34 provide for a rapid emptying of the pan 22. However, as will be hereinafter more fully described, the valve 25 is not opened until the lower ends of the pipes. 33 and 34 are submerged in liquid collected in the pan. In this manner, 'appreciable amounts of steam cannot be wasted from the boiler.

If desired, instead of utilizing the pipe 34 to vincrease the rate of discharge from the pan 22 asv shown in Figure 1, a pipe 34', shown in Figure 1A, can be iitted into the inlet port 30 of the valve 25 in place of the pipe 34. 'In Figure 1A parts identical 'with parts shown in Figure 1 vhave been designatedby the ysame reference numerals. The pipe 34 communicates. with the lower portion of the boileras at 39 for blowing oli sludge fromthe bottom of the boiler whenever the valve 25 is opened. Acontrol valve 39' [can be provided in the pipe line 39 for regulating the amount of blow-off. The pipe 34" therefore makes possible a simultaneous blowing down 'of the lower portion of the boiler with the empty- .ingofthe pan 22. .r

As best shown in Figure f1, the valve 25 hasan open ended cylinder 40 in the chamber 3| thereof. Pistons 4| andv 42 are slidable in the cylinder 40. ,.'The stem 43 ocffa poppet valve 44 is secured to the piston 4| while the stemv 45 of -another poppet valve 46v is secured to the piston 42. f y

The valve 44 seats on a valve seat 41 disposed between the chambers 26 and 3|'of the valve. A second valve seat .48 receives the poppet valve '46 thereon. The seat 48 is rriounted between the V chambers 29 and 3| of the valve.

When the valves 44 and 46 are in full seating relation on the valve seats I41 and48 a space 49 `m provided between the pistons 4| and 42 in the cylinder 40. 'Ihis space 49 communicates through a passageway 50 formed through the valve stem 43 and the valve 44 with theV chamber "26 of the valve.

A bleeder passageway is formed through the piston 42 and'valve stem-45 joining the space 49 with the chamber 3|.. The mouth of the bleeder passageway 5| is beveled as at 52 to provide a seat for a small pilot valve 53 secured on the end of a rod 54 extending through the passageway 59 into the chamber 26 and attached to the float 28 in the chamber.

The float 28 is a closed annular container having an axial passageway 55 vthrough the center thereof. Y

A tube 56 is threaded into the valve lseat 41 and extends into the passageway 55. Thev tube 56 carries bushings 51 for slidably receiving the rod 54. Passageways 58 are formed through the bushing supporting portions of the tube to permit passage of fluid from the chamber 26 up through the tube and through the passageway 5l! into 'the space 49 between the pistons.

When the float 28 is resting at the bottom of the chamber 26, the pilot valve 53 is unseated from its seat 52 and the chamber 26 is thus in communication through the passageway`50,space 49 and passageway 5I, with' thei discharge chamber 3|. :Under such conditions, boiler pressure acting against the valves 44 and 46 will maintain the valves seated on their valve seats. Steam entering the space 49 between the pistons from the chamber 26 by Virtue of the pipe connection 33 with the interior of the boiler is led through lthe passageway 5| into the discharge chamber. Pressure in the space 49 between the pistons can therefore not buildl up to a degree suiiicient to overcome the boiler pressure applied to the valves 44 and 46. However, when the mouth of the pipe 33 is submerged in liquid in the pan 22, liquid will be blown by the boiler pressure into the chamber 26 causing the iioatv 28 to rise in the chamber and seat the pilot valve 53 on its seat 52. vThe space 49 is thus sealed and boiler pressure existing in the chamber 26 will be applied to the space 49 through the passageway 50. .As showmthe top portion of the rod 54 is in spaced relation from the walls defining the passageway 59.

As the pressure in the space 49 builds up, the pistons 4| and 42 are forced toward the ends of the cylinder 49 to Aopen the valves 44 and 46. Liquid will thus be blown from the boiler through the pipes 33 and 34 or 34' into the chambers 26 and 29 of the valve 25. Since these chambers are in direct communication with the discharge chamber 3|, the liquid will be blown. outA of the valve through the pipe 35..

When the liquid level in the vpan 22 in the boiler subsides below the mouth ofthe pipe 33, only steam will be supplied to the chamber 26 ofthe valve and the liquid inthe chamber will be rapidly discharged through the open valve 44 thus permitting the oat 28 to again sink to the bottom of the chamber The space 49 between the pistons will then be vented to atmosphericy pressure and the boiler pressure` on thevalves 44 and 46 will rapidly close these valves.

From the above description it should be understood that a small amount of steam is bled from the boiler through the valve 25 until liquid enters the chamber 26 of the valve through the pipe 33. yWhen such condition arises the valve will be opened to permit a rapid discharge of the material collected in the pan 22 throughr the pipes 33 and 34, or, if desired, through'only one pipe while another pipe 34 can be used to blow down the lower portion of the boiler.

Since the valve 25 can vonly open when the mouth of the pipe 33 ris submerged inliquid collected in the pan 22 there is no appreciable Wasting of steam. The small amount of steam bled through the passageway 5I of the valve does not represent a measurable loss. Since the pan 22 can only collect contaminated light water or foam formed on top of the relatively good boiler water, this better boiler water likewise cannot be wasted from the boiler.

The device is entirely automatic in operation and serves to maintainthe foam and light water in a boiler below a dangerous level. Since the foam forming and foam stabilizing ingredients are concentrated inthe foam andlight water, the removal of these materials from the ,boiler decreases the production of foam and'eventually eliminates the foaming tendencies ofthe boiler water. l In the modication of the invention shown in Figures 2 and', parts identical with the parts described in Figures 1 and 4 have been marked with the same reference numerals. In this modification the collecting pan 22 may be dispensed with and only a single acting valve 60 is provided. The valve 68 contains only the bottom auxiliary valve or poppet valve 44 and piston 4| iii) of the valve 25. 'I'he down pipe '38, insteadof terminating in a collecting means, extends di'- rectly into the steam space of the boiler and terminates above the normal water level but below the level considered dangerous for foam or light water development.

The valve 68 utilizes the same lower housing member defining the chamber 28; the same iioat 28, and attendant auxiliary and pilot valve constructions as are used in the valve 25. However the valve 68, as best shown in Figure 5, does not have the upper inlet compartment and attendant auxiliary valve constructions of the valve 25. As shown in Figure 5, the valve 68 has an upper housing member 6I providing a discharge chamber 62 with the discharge port 32 therein receiving the end of the pipe 35.

A cylinder 63 is formed in the discharge chamber 62 of the housing Gi and has an open bottom end in alignment with the valve seat 4l. The piston 4i slides in the cylinder 63.

The top end of the cylinder 53 is closed by the top of the housing 6l and thus provides a space Sil above the piston di. A small bleeder passageway 65 is formed through the top of the housing l communicating with the. space 8e. The mouth of the passageway 65 has a valve seat 66 for receiving the pilot valve 53.

When the end of the pipe 33 is not submerged in foam or light water in the boiler, steam will enter the pipe and pass through the chamber 2S of the valve into the space 6A above the piston. When the float is not raised by liquid in the chamber 25, the pilot valve 53 will be spaced from the valve seat 58 and the steam entering the space Sli can bleed out of the valve 6i! through the passageway 65. Under such conditions the auxiliary valve @it will be subjected to boiler pressure while the space above its operating piston will be vented to the atmosphere. The valve lll-1 will thus remain closed.

However when foam or light water surrounds the mouth of the pipe 33, pressure within the boiler Il will blow this liquid into the chamber 26 of the valve thereby causing the iloat Z8 to rise and effecting a seating of the pilot valve against its seat 66. The space 5d will then be sealed from the atmosphere and will be subjected to boiler pressure existing in the chamber 28, since this space is in communication with the chamber through the passageway 58. The piston M, under such conditions, will be forced toward the end of the cylinder 63 tov open valve 44. The foam and light water will then be rapidly blown through the pipe 33 into the chamber 26 and up through the tube 55 past the open valve 44 into the discharge chamber 63 from which it is drained through the pipe 35. The valve will remain open as long as suicient liquid is supplied to the chamber 26 to raise the iioat 28. However, when the liquid level in the boiler subsides beneath the mouth of the pipe 31S, only steam will be supplied to the chamber 22 and the oat will drop to again vent the space 6G to the atmosphere and allow the valve fifi to close.

In this modication of the invention, therefore, only a negligible amount of steam is vented to the atmosphere when the valve G0 is in closed position. When the valve 68 is opened, the steam vent is sealed and foam or light water in the boiler is rapidly discharged out of the boiler. Since the valve 6B cannot open unless the mouth of the pipe 33 is submerged in liquid, appreciable amounts of steam cannot be wasted.

In the modication of the invention shown in .Figure 3", parts identical with thev parts described'iin Figures 1,' 2, 4 and 5 have beenV marked y In this into the inlet for receiving apoppet type auxil iary valve 15. v

'I'he housing 'H denes a chamber 'i6 having an outlet port 'Vl receiving the end` of the discharge pipe such as 35. A cylinder 18 is formed in the chamber 'I6 and has an open bottom end in alignment with' the inlet port 12.

A piston 'i9 formed integrally with the poppet valve l5 is slidable in the'cylinder 18. The top of the housing 'H closesthe other end of the cylinder and a space 80 is provided above the piston 19.

A passageway 8i. is formed through the valvev` I5 and piston 'I8 joining 'the i3 with the space 88.

A small bleeder passageway 82 is formed through the `top of the housing 'H- joining the space 80 with a chamber 83 formed by va sec'- ondary housing member 84 on top of the housing member 1l. 'I'he chamber 83 has a discharge port 85 receiving the end of a drain-tube 86 therein;

A large bleederv passageway'lis also formed through the top of the housing 'H joining the space 88 with the chamber 83.

. v A small pilot valve 88 is mounted in the chaminterior of the pipe lias ber 83 on a bimetal concave Spencer disc l89.

chamber 83 will move thediscso as to pullthe` pilot valve 88 away from the `bleeder passageway 81. f mi When the mouth of the down pipe 13 is not submerged in foam or lightWater, steam will bleed from the space '8B Vabovethe piston 19 through the small bleeder passageway 82 where it is released to atmospheric pressure in the open chamber 83. This open chamber allows the steam to expand and, when dry steam is thus discharged through the orice 82, a superheatjing occurs raising the temperature surrounding the disc 89 materially above 212 F. Under such heated conditions the disc 89 is expanded tofjforce the pilot valve 83 against the mouth of the passageway 81. f

The passageway 82 is sufficiently small sothat the space 80 is maintained under pressure as long as the passageway 81 is closed by the pilot valve 88. This pressure will act directly against the top of the piston i9 to hold the valve 'i5 against its seat 14. The interior of the pipe 13 will then not communicate with the discharge chamber 16.`

However, when the mouthy of the pipe A'i3 is submerged in liquid'collected in the pan 22, moisture will 'necessarily be entrained with the Ysteam entering the space 8i)` above the piston. If 4% or more of moisture or water is discharged with the steam through the orifice 82 into the chamber 83, the temperature in the chamber will be reduced to 212 F. Under such conditions, the Spencer disc 89 willl contract upwardly to' pull 'lov 'chamber |06 below the inlet |00.

against the boiler pressure acting on the small th 'pilot valve away from `the passageway 81 and this passageway will be vented to the atmosphere. f

The combined rate of bleeding through the passageways 82 and 81 reduces the pressure in the space 80 suciently to allow the boiler pressure acting on the valve15 to unseat this valve. The pipe 13 will thus vcommunicate with the discharge chamber 16 and material collected in the pan 22 will be blown through the valve 10vout of the boiler. As soon as the mouth of the pipe 13 is uncovered, however, dry steam will be bled through the orices 82 and 81 to raise the temperature in the chamber 83 and cause the disc to again seat the pilot valve 88. Pressure in the space 80 will again build up to an amount suillciept to reseat the valve 15.

In this modification of the: invention, therefore, only small amounts of steam are vented to the atmosphere, and, when the quality of the steam vented to the atmosphere is lowered to av point where it carries approximately 4% or more of moisture, the valve 10 will be opened to permit discharge of foam .and light water from the boiler.

It should be understood that other' thermal operating means for actuating the pilot'` valve 88 let |03 receives the end 'of a pipe |04 communieating with the interior of the boiler at any desired level therein such as for example at th bottom of the mud ring. v 1

The casing |02 defines a bottom |05 having the inlet |03 and a top chamberv |06 having the inlet |00. An outlet |01 is provided for the chamber |06 through ther side wall of the casing. The outlet |01 may receive a pipe |08 leadingto a steam separator such as the separator 36.

An open ended cylinder |09-is yformed in the y The top of the cylinder is spaced belowA the inlet so as to place the inlet in restricted communication with the outlet |01. I

An opening ||0 joins the chambers |06 and and a valve seat ||0a is formed around the bottom end of the opening. A. valve is adapted to seat on the valve seat |0a. for closing the opening.

The valve has a stem ||2 extending into the cylinder |09 and a piston' 3, slidable in the cylinder, is secured tothe end of this stem.

Boiler pressure in the pipe 04 will normally hold thevvalve against the seat ||0a to close the blow off 'valve |0|. However, when the valve the boiler will be blown down.

Liquid vfrom the pipes 35 and charged through the outlet |01.

It should be understood that the area of the top ofthe piston is much greater than the areav of the bottom of the valve |v and that the inlet |00 is only in restricted communication with the outlet |01 so that the 't'.ioilerv ypressure actingV on'the large piston areawill slide'the piston |04` will be diS- valve area. j

In this vmodiiication therefore the pilot valve operates a remote blow off valve for blowing down any `desired portion of the boiler.

The collecting pan 22 shown'in Figure 3 may be dispensed with, ifk desired, and the valve will then operate by direct communication with the steam space of the boiler as does the valve 60 described in Figure 2.y Likewise, the vdouble acting or duplex valve described in Figure l can be used without a collecting pan or the single acting valve described in Figure 2 can be used with `a collecting pan.

In all modifications ofthis invention, therefore, the entrance of liquid into avalve effects an opening of the valve todischarge from the boiler, light water and foam containing foam stabilizing and foam forming ingredients and/or boiler water from any desired portion ofA the boiler. K y

We arevvaware that many changes may be made and numerousdetails ofv construction may be varied through a wide range without departing from the principles of this invention, and we, therefore, do not purpose limiting the patent granted hereon otherwise than necessitated by the prior art.

AWe claim as our invention: c y

1. In apparatus for controlling foaming lin operating steam boilers including collecting means mounted'in the upper portion of the boiler andA having an inlet above the normal water level in the boiler but below the steam outlet of the boiler, a valve housing mounted outside of said boiler, and a tube joining the interior of the' valve housing with the bottom portion of the coliecting means, the improvements which vcomprise a piston slidable in said valve housing, a valve connected to said piston in such a manner sov as to be opened by the pistonwhen one side thereof is'subjected to .boiler pressure,` said valve and piston having va bleeder passageway therethrough communicating said side of the piston with .the boiler pressure, means venting said side ofthe piston to the atmosphere, a pilot Valve for closing the vent and means responsive to liquid entering the valve housing for actuating the pilot valve whereby boiler pressure is allowed to build up against the piston for opening the valve to permit discharge of material from the collecting means. v 2. In apparatus for removing foam formin and foam stabilizing ingredients from operating steam boilers including a collecting means mounted in the upper portion of a boiler having aninlet above the normal water level in the boiler but within the Zone reached bya Safe development of foam on top of the boiler water, the improvements which comprise a valve housing mounted on top of the .boiler having an inlet compartment and an outlet compartmenta tube extending from said inlet compartment of the valve housing downwardly into spaced relation from thebottom of the collecting means, a poppet valve in said valve housing separating the inlet and dischargecompartments, a piston secured to said poppet valve in such a manner to open the valve when one side of the piston is subjected to boiler pressure, a bleeder passageway extending through said piston and poppet valve for joining the inlet and discharge compartments, a cylinder for slidably receiving said piston, means delining a bleeder passageway for venting the space in the cylinder above the piston to the isl atmosphere, a iioat in said inlet chamber, va rod carried by y"said float extending ythrough the bleeder passageway into the space above the piston, a pilot rvalve seated on the end of said lrod for 'closing the vent passageway and a guiding tube surrounding said rod in the inlet chamber and extending into spaced relation from the bottom of the chamber whereby an entry of liquid into the inlet `chamber will cause the iloat to rise and seatthe pilot valve against the mouth of the vent passageway and boiler pressure will be exerted against said side of the piston to open the poppet Valve for discharge of liquid into the discharge chamber up through the guiding tube.

3. In apparatus for controlling foaming in operating steam boilers including a collecting means mounted in the. upper portion of the boiler having an inlet above the normal water level in the boiler butv below the steam outlet of the boiler, the' improvements ywhich' comprise a valve housing mounted on top of the boiler having top and bottom inlet compartments and an intermediate discharge compartment between the inlet compartments, auxiliary valves in said valve housing joining the inlet compartments with the discharge compartment, an open-ended cylinder in said discharge compartment,pistons slidable in said cylinder secured to said auxiliary valves in such a manner as to open said valves when said pistons are subjected to. boiler pressure, said valve between the lower inlet compartment and the discharge compartment having a passageway joining the inlet compartment with the space in the cylinder between the pistons, said other auxiliary valve having a bleeder passageway joining said space with the discharge compartment, a float mounted in said bottom inlet compartment, a rod secured to said float and extending through the passageway of the auxiliary valve, a pilot valve carried on the end of said rodin the space between the pistons adapted to seat against the mouth of the bleeder passageway, a pipe extending fromthe bottom inlet compartment downwardly into the lower portion of the collecting means, and a pipe line extending from said top inlet compartment into the boiler, whereby steam will be vented from the boiler through the valve housing only until the pipe communicating with the bottom inlet compartment is submerged in liquid whereupon said liquid will enter said compartment to raise the float and seat the pilot valve against the mouth of the bleeder passage# way whereupon boiler pressure will build up in the` space between the pistons to open the auxiliary valves for emptying the material collected inthe collecting means.

4. In apparatus for controllingv foaming in operating steam boilers which comprises a collecting means mounted in the upper portion of a'boiler having an inlet above the normal water.

level therein but below a dangerous foam level,

the improvements which comprise a valve nousing mounted on top of the boiler having top and bottom inlet compartments and an intermediate discharge compartment, piston operated auxiliary valves in said valve housingl separating the inlet compartments from the discharge compartment and arranged to be openedwhen the pistons are subjected to boiler pressure, an open-ended cylinder in said discharge compartment receiving the pistons of the auxiliary valves in slidable relation therein, means venting the space in the cylinder between the pistons. with the atmosphere, means joining the spacein the cylinder between the pistons with the bottom inlet compartment, a float in said bottom inlet comparte,

pipe communicating with the bottom inlet com-` y partment` of the housing is submerged in collected liquid whereupon said liquid will raise the iioat to actuate the pilot valve for closing the vent passageway andl sealing the space between the pistons from the atmosphere to allow boiler pressure to open the auxiliary Valves andrapidly.

discharge the collected material from the col. lecting means into the discharge compartment of the valve.

5. In apparatus for controlling foaming in operating steam. boilers including a collecting means mounted in the upper portion of the boiler` having an inlet above the normal water level in the boilerbut below the steam outlet of the boiler, the improvements which comprise a valve housing mounted outside of the boiler having twof.'

inlet compartments and a discharge comparta.

ment, piston operated auxiliary valves separating the inlet compartments from the discharge compartmentand arranged to be openedby pressure differentials on opposite sides thereof, a pilot valve controlling said pressure differentials by periodically venting one side of the valves to the atmosphere, a float vin one of the inlet com partmentsv for actuating the pilot valve, a pipe l extending from the inlet compartment having the float therein into the bottom portion of the collecting means, a secondgpipe extending from the other inlet compartment into communication withthe lower portion ofthe boiler, said; float and pilot valve being so arranged as to so control said pressure differentials that the auxiliaryvalves open upon a predetermined move-" ment of the iloat whereupon an entr-y of liquid into the,v inlet compartment from the collecting means will; move the oat and the pilot valve to open the auxiliary valves and. material collected in the collecting meanswill be blown outv of theboiler simultaneously with sludge water from the lower portion of the boiler. v

6. Apparatus for removing foam forming' and ioamstabilizing ingredients from operating steam a boilers which comprises a valve housing mounted on top of a boiler, a tube extending downwardlyvv from said valve housing into the boiler,` the mouth of said tube being above theY normal water level in the boiler but below a dangerous foam level in the boiler and positioned to be submerged inlightl water and foam on top of the boiler waterbefore said light water and foam reaches a dangerous; level in the boiler, and said tube, being arranged' to continuously supply steam to the valveuntil saidY mouth is submerged, said valve housing,hav-A ing a cylinder therein, a, piston slidalllel inrsaiid cylinder, a poppet valve portion4 ongsaidv piston adapted to close the mouth of the tube, ableeder passageway venting the space in they cylinder above the piston with the atmosphere, a second,

larger .bleeder passageway also venting said space with the atmosphere, a pilot valve adapted to.

Aclose said larger passageway, and a thermally operated device carrying said pilot, valve, said device adapted tofholdthepilot valve againstv same when dry steam is discharged through the small passageway but moving 'said pilot valver away from the large passageway when moisture is entrained with the steam thereby permitting the piston to move in the cylinder for opening the valve.

7. Apparatus for controlling foaming in oper-1 ating steam boilers which comprises a down pipe extending into the boiler and having the inlet mouth thereof spaced above the .normal water level in the boiler but below the steam outlet of the boiler, said mouth of the downpipe positioned to be submerged in light water and foam:

on top of the boiler water before said light water and foam reaches a dangerous level, a valve closing the other end of the down pipe, and thermally operative means for actuating said valve whenever the mouth of the down pipe is submerged in liquid, or wheneverv excessive moisture enters said mouth of,k said down pipe with the steam.

8. Apparatus for controllingfoaming in operating'steam boilers which comprises a collecting means mounted in the upper portion of a boiler having aninlet above the normal Water level in the boiler but below the steam outlet, a down pipe extending into said collecting means and terminating in spaced relation from the bottom thereof, the inlet mouth of said down pipe positioned to be submerged inv light water and foam on top of the boiler water before said light water and foam reaches a dangerous level in the boiler, a valve housing mounted on top of the boiler receiving the other end of the down pipe therein, a valve in said housing adapted to close said other end ofthe down pipe, and thermally operated means for actuating said valve whenever .the mouth of the .down pipe is submerged in liquid in the collecting means.

9. In an apparatus for controlling foam in an operating steam boiler, a valve adapted to be secured on top of the boiler which comprises a valve housing having aninlet port at the bottom thereof and a discharge port at the vside thereof, a cylinder in said valve housing above the inlet port thereof having an open bottom communieating with the discharge port and a top closed by the top of the housing, a` valve seat in said inlet port, a piston slidable in said cylinder, a valve on the bottom of said piston adapted to be seated on the valve seat, a passageway through the valve and piston joining the inlet port with the space inthe cylinder above the piston, a small bleeder passageway venting said space to the atmosphere, a large bleeder passageway venting said space to the atmosphere, a pilot valve outside of said housing adapted to close the mouth of the large passageway and a Spencer disk supporting said pilot valve whereupon dry steam discharged from the small passageway will heat the disk to hold the pilot valve against the mouth of the large passageway while wet steam or liquid will cool the disk to move the pilot valve away 'from the mouth of the large passageway and allow the piston to move in the cylinder for opening the valve.

l0. In an apparatus for controlling foaming in operating steam boilers, a valve housing adapted to be mounted on top of the boiler, said housing having top and bottom inlet compartments and an intermediate discharge compartment, valve seats joining the inlet compartments with the discharge compartment, valves adapted to be seated on said valve seats, pistons secured to said valves for actuating the latter, an openended cylinder in said discharge compartment receiving the pistons therein in slidable relation thereto, means deiining a passageway joining the space in the cylinder between the pistons with the bottom inlet compartment, means de'- ning a bleeder passageway joining the space inA the cylinder between the pistons with the discharge compartment, a iioat in said bottom inlet compartment, a rod extending from said float through said passageway joining the space inv the cylinder between the pistons with the bottomy inlet compartment, and a pilot valve on the end of said rod adapted to close the mouth of the bleeder passageway, the arrangement being such that entry ofy liquid intoy the bottom inlet compartment will raise the float to move the pilot valve against the mouth of the bleeder passageway and effect an opening of the valves to join the inlet compartments with the discharge compartment.

11. In an apparatus for controlling foam in operating steam boilers, a valve housing adapted to be mounted on top of the boiler, said valve housing deiining a iioat chamber and a discharge chamber above said float chamber, a valve seat joining said chambers, a poppet valve adapted to be seated on said valve seat, a piston secured to said poppet valve, a cylinder in said discharge compartment slidably receiving said piston, means deiining a passageway joining the iioat chamber with the space in the cylinder above the piston, aA bleeder passage venting said space with the atmosphere, a rod secured to said iloat extending through said passageway into the space above the piston, and a pilot valve on the end of said rod adapted to close the vent, the arrangement being suchA that entry of liquid into said 'iioat chamber will raise the iloat to seat the pilot valve and permit the piston to open the poppet valve for joining the float chamber with the discharge compartment.

- 12. Apparatus for blowing down a boiler which comprises a thermally operated pilot valve communicating with the boiler and arranged to openv when'the temperature in the valve drops below a predetermned degree, a blow off valve communicating with the pilot Valve and with the interior of the boiler and means in said blow ol Valve actuated by an opening of the pilot valve to open the blow oif valve for blowing down the boiler.

v13. In an apparatus for controlling foaming in operating boilers, a valve housing, said housing having top and bottomk inlet compartments and a discharge compartment, valve seats joining the inlet compartments with the discharge compartment, valves adapted to be seated on said valve seats, pistons secured to said valves for actuating the latter, a cylinder in said valve housing receiving the pistons in slidable relation thereto, means dening a passageway joining the space in the cylinder between the pistons with the bottom inlet compartment, means defining a bleeder passage joining the space in the cylinder between the pistons with the discharge compartment, a closed float in the bottom inlet compartment, a rod extending from said float through said passageway into the space between the pistons and a pilot valve on the end of said rod adapted to close the mouth of the bleeder passage, the arrangement being such that entry of liquid into the bottom inlet compartment will raise the iioat to move the pilot valve against the mouth of the bleeder passage and effect an opening of the valves yto join the inlet compartments with the discharge compartment.

14. Apparatus for controlling foaming in operating steam boilers which comprises a main valve mounted outside of the boiler having a feed pipe extending therefrom into the boiler, the mouth of said feed pipe being at alevel in the boiler above the normal water level but below a dangerous foam level, said mouth of the down pipe positioned to be submerged in light water and foam on top of the boiler water before said light water and foam reaches a dangerous level in the boiler, and said feed pipe being arranged to continuously supply steam to the main valve until the mouth thereof is submerged, means dening a passageway in said main valve for venting steam entering the valve to the atmosphere, a pilot valve cooperating with said passageway and arranged to allow and stop the venting of steam to the atmosphere, and means responsive to liquid entering the main valve through the feed pip-e for moving the pilot valve to change the venting of steam and to open the main valve.

15. Apparatus for controlling foaming in operating steam boilers which comprises a valve mounted on top of the boiler, a do-wnpipe eX- tending from the valve into the boiler, the mouth of said downpipe in the boiler being at a level above the normal water level but below the steam outlet of the boiler, said mouth of the downpipe positioned to be submerged in light water and foam on top of the boiler water before said light water and foam reaches a dangerous level in the boiler, and said downpipe being arranged to continuously supply steam to the valve until the mouth thereof is submerged, means defining a bleeder passageway in said valve for venting steam entering the valve to the atmosphere, a

`. pilot valve cooperating with said bleeder passageway and arranged to allow and stop the venting of steam to the atmosphere, and a float responsive to liquid entering the valve on top of the boiler through the downpipe `when the `mouth of the downpipe is submerged for moving the pilot valve to change the venting of steam to open the valve on top of the boiler.

i6. In apparatus for controlling foaming in operating steam boilers including collecting means mounted in the upper portion of a boiler having an inlet above the normal water level in the boiler` but below a dangerous foam level, and a main valve mounted outside of the boiler having a tube extending into the boiler and term` hating near the bottom of thevcollecting means, the improvements which comprise. said tube hav-y ing an inlet mouth communicating withthe bottom portion of said collecting means to receive light water and foam entering the collecting means, said inlet mouth positioned to be submerged in light water and foam received by said collecting means before said light water and foam reaches a dangerous level in the boiler, and said tube being arranged to continuously supply steam to the main valve until the mouth thereof is submerged, means defining a passageway in said main valve for venting steam entering the valve through said tube to the atmosphere, a pilot Valve cooperating with said passageway and arranged to allow and stop the Venting of steam to the atmosphere, and means responsive to liquid entering the valve through the tube when the mouth of the tube is submerged in liquid in the collect-j ing means for moving thepilot Valve to change the venting of steam to the atmosphere whereby said main valve will .open only when the level of liquid in the collecting means is above the inlet mouth of the tube.

17. In the method of `controlling foaming in operating steam boilers by the vuse of a blow-off valve, the steps which comprise bleeding a small amount of steam from the boiler into the blowoff valve as long as foam and light water level in the boiler are below a predetermined level, and changing the rate of steambleeding to said valve by foam and light water exceeding said level to effect an opening of the valve for blowing off foam and light water from the boiler.

18. The method of controlling foaming in operating steam boilers which comprises providing a path for discharge of foam and light water from an operating steam boiler having an inlet at a level above the normal boiler water level but below a dangerous foam level, bleeding steam from the boiler along said path while restricting the flow of steam through said path when the foam and light water level in the boiler is below the inlet to the path, and changing the rate of steam bleeding when they foam and light water lever in the boiler is above the' inlet to said path to open said restriction by said change of rate for the discharge of foam and light water from the boiler.

LEWIS O. GUNDERSON. OLAND W. CARRICK. 

